A Walk Outside the Cave

Month: October 2015

The sun was rising on the ocean in the deep of October. Brilliant lights scored the sky. Strong wind blew over the surface of calm waters, creating a ripple that moved east towards a shore 2,000 miles away. In time the ripple grew to a large wave and he saw the beauty of the sunrise. “I am lucky to be here,” said the wave, continuing its steady journey towards shore.

Soon enough the large wave met other waves, and together they sang and told stories as they journeyed east. “What do you think is on the other side of the ocean,” asked a young wave. “We will travel east until the ocean ends, then we crash upon the shore and die.” The little wave instinctively knew that this was true. “Can we stop it?” asked the little wave. “I don’t see how,” replied the other. “We must move to live, and once we move long enough we will reach a shore.” The little wave let out a shriek, “I don’t want to die! I will be the one who solves this problem.” So the little wave went about gathering as much water as he could, adding it to himself. As he grew in size, he also grew in speed, bringing himself to his end before his time. The large wave, meanwhile, continued to enjoy the colors of the sunrise, the sound of gulls in the distance, the smell of salt in the air.

The next day another small wave asked him, “What do you think is on the other side of the ocean?” The large wave replied, “We will travel east until the ocean ends, then we will crash upon the shore and die.” This wave too knew the truth in the large wave’s words. “Can we stop it?” asked the little wave. “I don’t see how,” replied the other. “We must move to live, and once we move long enough, we will reach a shore.” This little wave did not let out a shriek, but instead travelled next to the large wave for protection. “I will hide behind you,” said the little wave, “and you can protect me from the shore.” “I cannot protect you little one, and moreover you do not need my protection.” “Why not?” asked the little one, pulling in a little closer for the sake of security. “Look at the sun,” said the large wave with softness in his voice. “See how it burns?” “Yes,” replied the little one. “If it does not burn it does not live, but as it burns it approaches its death. Should, then, the sun not burn?” asked the large wave. “Well of course it should, that is what it is made to do.” “So you, then, must travel east. The struggle to survive is ultimately futile. If you can accept this, only then are you free to live! Enjoy the colors of the sunrise, the sounds of gulls in the distance, and the smell of salt in the air today; for tomorrow we die, but do not suffer your death before it comes!”

“May I bother you with one last question, sir?” asked the little wave. “Yes, of course,” replied the large wave. “Why aren’t you afraid of death?” The large wave looked at him with a tenderness in his eyes. “I am not afraid death because I am not a wave, I am the ocean!”